The Transformation Review is devoted to the art and craft of poetry in translation. We believe translation is not about replicating the experience of reading in the original language—an impossible task—but about transformation: a creative practice that brings new possibilities into being. It is a delicate recalibration of sound, rhythm, and meaning across linguistic boundaries. Each poem that moves between languages invites readers to dwell in the productive tensions that emerge when words migrate from one tongue to another.
We publish thoughtful reviews of translated poetry collections alongside essays that explore the translation process itself—the theoretical concerns, practical challenges, and creative decisions that shape how poetry crosses linguistic borders. Our focus is on the translator's art: the careful attention, the daring choices, the creative solutions that bring poetry into new life. We are interested in both new and established translations, whether of contemporary works or classic texts.
For readers, we offer a curated space to discover translated poetry and deepen understanding of translation as a literary practice. For reviewers and essayists, we provide a responsive editorial process and timely publication—a platform where serious writing about translation finds its audience without delay.
Looking ahead, we plan to publish a semi-annual online journal featuring curated selections of our best reviews and essays, creating a lasting archive of contemporary thinking about poetry in translation.
Translation is always an act of careful attention. So is good criticism. The Transformation Review honors both.
Translation Project
Ross Belot and Sara Burant have been translating Paul Éluard's 1932 French Surrealist collection La Vie immédiate. Their translations have appeared in journals including Denver Quarterly, Delos, Ezra, and World Poetry Review.
